A skilled carpenter’s birthday celebration ended in tragedy last week when he drowned at sea off a popular Balite beach in Virac last Thursday.

According to the police, Jose Naorbe Naman, a resident of Paliparan in Dasmariñas City, Cavite who was vacationing in Danicop, Virac, turned 53 on Oct. 3, 2019 and, together with friends and relatives, went to celebrate the big day at the beach in sitio Mamangal

After a drinking spree, the victim swam out to sea but disappeared after several minutes, his companions said. They began a frantic search for Jose, who was recovered underwater at about 4:30 P.M.

The unconscious and no longer breathing victim was immediately brought by responding personnel of the Philippine Red Cross emergency response unit to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center but he was declared dead on arrival at 5:39 P.M. by Dr. Graziela Guerrero.